HSE investigation finds viral patient mistreatment video was not filmed at UHL

An investigation by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid West has concluded that a viral video depicting the mistreatment of an elderly patient was not filmed at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) or any other HSE Mid West facility. The footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed a healthcare worker calling a patient “crazy” and refusing them a cup of tea.

The HSE confirmed that the incident occurred at a different care setting and that the patient involved has been identified and their family informed. The investigation also established that no staff members from UHL or the HSE Mid West region were involved in the recording.

Aisling Hogan, who had publicly believed the patient in the video was her late mother, Ita Tobin, issued an apology on Sunday. Ms. Hogan stated that her family “genuinely and wholeheartedly believed” the woman was her mother and expressed regret for the mistake.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill described the situation as a “lesson to everybody” regarding the importance of establishing facts before reacting to social media content. She also expressed regret that UHL staff had faced abuse and threats in connection to the video.